Ecology & Biodiversity Dr. Benoit Guénard, School of Biological Sciences
Language Courses
Allows students’ language
skills through courses in
English and Chinese
Provides language training
specific to students major of
study
Common Core
Courses
Allows students to develop
broader perspective and
critical understanding of
contemporary issues
through different fields of
research
Science Foundation
Courses
Two Science Foundation
courses give students a
general view of science.
Helps to develop students’
competence in science and
the ability to reason in
logical and quantitative
manners
Flexible Science
Specialization Program
Students are free to choose
any of the 15 Science
Majors
Student can choose a Minor
or second Major either
within or outside the
Faculty of Science, and
design their own curriculum
Capstone learning
Require students to
integrate knowledge and
skills to accomplish some
complex tasks in their areas
of disciplinary study
4-year curriculum
Ecology & Biodiversity (Intensive, Major & Minor)
Bachelor of Science
• Diversity of species
• Interactions between species
& their environment
• Regional & global threats
on biodiversity
Why choosing this major?
Curious about biology, nature &
conservation
Concerned about global environmental
issues and protection of nature
Interest in Science
Love fieldwork and/or laboratory work
Enthusiast about exploring the natural
world
What will you learn?
Broad knowledge in ecology, evolution
and conservation
Communication skills
Skills to work independently & in team
Develop analytical and critical skills
Understanding of local & global
environmental issues
Objectives:
1. Research
• Explore the biodiversity of living organisms (microorganisms, plants and
animals) and their ecology, with particular reference to Hong Kong and
Southeast Asia
2. Teaching
• Help students to understand:
biological diversity, the relationships between organisms and their
environments
how humans interact with other organisms and the environment
the importance and need for biodiversity conservation
Ecology & Biodiversity
Major in Ecology &
Biodiversity
1. Introductory level courses (48 credits)
Science Foundation Courses (12 credits)
SCNC1111 Scientific method and reasoning
SCNC1112 Fundamentals of modern science
Disciplinary Courses (36 credits)
BIOL1110 From molecules to cells
BIOL2102 Biostatistics
BIOL2306 Ecology and evolution
BIOL1309 Evolutionary diversity
ENVS2001 Environmental field & lab course
ENVS2016 Environmental data analysis
Major in Ecology &
Biodiversity 2. Advanced level courses (42 credits)
BIOL3302 Systematics and phylogenetics BIOL3301 Marine biology
BIOL3319 Tropical terrestrial ecology
Plus at least 30 credits (5 courses) selected from the following:
BIOL3101 Animal behaviour
BIOL3303 Conservation ecology
BIOL3305 Tropical & temperate marine ecology
BIOL3313 Freshwater ecology
BIOL3419 Insect ecology
BIOL4301 Fish and fisheries
BIOL4505 Oyster aquaculture
BIOL3314 Plant structure and evolution
BIOL3322 Marine invertebrate zoology
BIOL3318 Experimental intertidal ecology
BIOL4302 Environmental impact assessment
BIOL4304 Ecosystem functioning & services
ENVS3019 Urban ecology
ENVS3020 Global change ecology
BIOL3328 Nearshore marine & estuarine ecol.
Major in Ecology &
Biodiversity
3. Capstone requirement (6 credits)
At least 6 credits selected from the following:
BIOL3991 Directed studies in ecology & biodiversity
BIOL4991 Ecology & biodiversity project
Total Major: 96 credits
Summer courses
BIOL1110 From
molecules to cells
1st Y
ear
2n
d Y
ear
3rd
Yea
r
4th
Yea
r
Legend Introductory Level Advanced Level
Disciplinary Core
Capstone
Disciplinary Elective
BIOL1309 Evolutionary
diversity
BIOL2102
Biostatistics BIOL2103 Biological
sciences laboratory course BIOL2306 Ecology and
evolution ENVS2002 Environmental
data analysis
SCNC1111 Scientific method and reasoning
SCNC1112 Fundamentals
of modern science
BIOL3302
Systematics &
phylogenetics
BIOL3303
Conservation ecology
BIOL3101
Animal
behaviour
BIOL3301
Marine
biology
BIO
L4991
Eco
log
y
& b
iod
ivers
ity
pro
ject
(12
cre
dit
s)
BIOL3305 Tropical & temperate marine ecology field course
BIOL3313
Freshwater ecology (18)
BIOL3314 Plant
structure & evolution BIOL3318 Exper. intertidal ecology (18)
BIOL3319
Terrestrial
ecology
BIOL3322 Marine invert. zoology (19)
BIOL3419 Insect ecology (18)
BIOL4505 Oyster aquaculture &
restoration (18)
BIOL4301
Fish & fisheries (19)
BIOL4302
Environmental impact assessment
BIOL4861 Ecology
& biodiversity internship
Field course included
ENVS3019 Urban ecology (19)
ENVS3020 Global change ecology (18)
1st S
em.
2n
d Sem
.
1st S
em.
2n
d Sem
.
Every other year (year taught)
CCC
CCC
BIOL3328
Nearshore marine
& estuarine ecology
BIOL3991 Directed
studies in ecology & biodiversity
BIOL4304 Ecosystem
functioning &services (19)
20 core and elective courses
Small classes (12-25 students)
65% of courses with field components
Intensive Major in Ecology &
Biodiversity
Accredited degree by the
• Diploma with increased international visibility &
recognition
Intensive Major in Ecology &
Biodiversity
• Membership
• Access to an international network of professionals
• Discount on selected life science titles and professional
development courses
• Insurance of excellency in teaching and learning
Intensive Major in E & B
1. Introductory level courses (60 credits)
Science Foundation Courses (12 credits)
SCNC1111 Scientific method and reasoning
SCNC1112 Fundamentals of modern science
Disciplinary Courses (48 credits)
BIOL1110 From molecules to cells
BIOL2102 Biostatistics
BIOL2306 Ecology and evolution
BIOL1309 Evolutionary diversity
BIOL2103 Biological sciences laboratory course
ENVS2016 Environmental data analysis
One chemistry course: CHEM1041 or 1042 EASC1401 Blue Planet
2. Advanced level courses (72 credits)
BIOL3302 Systematics and phylogenetics
BIOL3301 Marine biology
BIOL3319 Tropical terrestrial ecology
BIOL3101 Animal behaviour
BIOL3303 Conservation ecology
Plus at least 42 credits (7 courses) selected from the following:
BIOL3305 Tropical & temperate marine ecology
BIOL3313 Freshwater ecology
BIOL3314 Plant structure and evolution
BIOL3318 Experimental intertidal ecology
BIOL3419 Insect ecology
BIOL4301 Fish and fisheries
BIOL4505 Oyster aquaculture
BIOL3322 Marine invertebrate zoology
BIOL4302 Environmental impact assessment
BIOL4304 Ecosystem functioning & services
ENVS3019 Urban ecology
ENVS3020 Global change ecology
BIOL3328 Nearshore marine & estuarine ecol.
Intensive Major in E & B
3. Capstone requirement (12 credits)
Core capstone course BIOL4991 Ecology & biodiversity project
Elective capstone course (optional)
BIOL3991 Directed studies in ecology & biodiversity
Intensive Major in E & B
Total Intensive Major: 144 credits
A diverse and international team
Prof. Gray Williams
Intertidal Ecology
Dr. Stefano Cannicci
Mangrove ecology Dr. Rajan Vengatesen
Ocean acidification
Prof. David Dudgeon
Freshwater Ecology
Prof. Kenneth Leung
Aquatic toxicology &
ecophysiology
Prof. Yvonne Sadovy
Marine biology &
conservation
Prof. Richard Saunders
Plant ecology & evolution
Dr. Bayden Russell
Marine ecology
A diverse and international team
Dr. Moriaki Yasuhara
Deep sea ecology
Dr. Billy Hau
Ecological restoration
Dr. David Baker
Coral reef ecology
Dr. Tim Bonebrake
Global change ecology
Dr. Benoit Guénard
Insect ecology Dr. Simon Sin
Animal Behaviour
Dr. J. D. Gaitán-Espitia
Ecophysiology & evolution
Dr. Louise Ashton
Ecosystem function
16 World-class researchers
(+ 2 joining soon)
> 1200 publications in ecology & conservation
Introductory Level Courses
Fundamental knowledge in Ecology & Biodiversity
Major in Ecology & Biodiversity
• Evolutionary Diversity
• Ecology and Evolution
Evolutionary Diversity
• Introduction to the diversity of plant
and animal life & their evolutionary
history and relationships
Ecology & Evolution
• Introduction to the interaction between
organisms and their environment and the
central role of evolution
• Understand and explain the significance of
nature using scientific methods
Ecology & Evolution
• 5 days field course!
• Study both marine and terrestrial
ecosystems & organisms of Hong Kong
• Familiarize with scientific methods to
study organisms and their environments
Hands on learning
16 courses with field courses offered
Terrestrial ecology
Freshwater ecology
Marine ecology
Coastal ecology
Overseas field courses • Australia
• British Colombia (Canada)
• Hainan (China)
• Malaysia
• Philippines
• Sri Lanka
• South Africa
Make an impact!
Many opportunities to engage into
research as an undergraduate among
one of 16 laboratories!
Swire
Institute of
Marine
Science
Further studies:
MPhil, PhD, MSc,
MLA…etc.
NGOs, Govt.,
private
sector
Jobs not related
to research or
conservation
E&B students
Graduates
Building your future career
Education
100%
employment
after 6 months
19% 27% 19% 21%*
Student Peer Advisers in 2018-19
• General roles
• to offer advice in relation to academic studies to freshmen; and
• to facilitate freshmen’s smooth transition from secondary to university education
• You are highly encouraged to contact the following Student Peer Advisers (SPAs) if you have any questions about your study (their contacts can be found at the Faculty’s website)
• Mr TIN Kwan Yau (BSc Year 3)
Thank you!
Summer courses
BIOL1110 From
molecules to cells
1st Y
ear
2n
d Y
ear
3rd
Yea
r
4th
Yea
r
Legend Introductory Level Advanced Level
Disciplinary Core
Capstone
Disciplinary Elective
BIOL1309 Evolutionary
diversity
BIOL2102
Biostatistics BIOL2103 Biological
sciences laboratory course BIOL2306 Ecology and
evolution ENVS2002 Environmental
data analysis
SCNC1111 Scientific method and reasoning
SCNC1112 Fundamentals
of modern science
BIOL3302
Systematics &
phylogenetics
BIOL3303
Conservation ecology
BIOL3101 Animal behaviour (18) BIOL3301
Marine
biology
BIOL4911
Conservation science in practice
BIO
L4991
Eco
log
y
& b
iod
ivers
ity
pro
ject
(12
cre
dit
s)
BIOL3305 Tropical & temperate marine ecology field course
BIOL3313
Freshwater ecology (18)
BIOL3314 Plant
structure & evolution (17) BIOL3318 Exper. intertidal ecology (18)
BIOL3319
Terrestrial
ecology
BIOL3322 Marine invert. zoology (17)
BIOL3419 Insect ecology (18)
BIOL4505 Oyster aquaculture &
restoration (18)
BIOL4301
Fish & fisheries (17)
BIOL4302
Environmental impact assessment
BIOL4304 Ecosystem
functioning &services (17)
BIOL4861 Ecology
& biodiversity internship
Field course included
ENVS3019 Urban ecology (17)
ENVS3020 Global change ecology (18)
1st S
em.
2n
d Sem
.
1st S
em.
2n
d Sem
.
Every other year (year taught)
CCC
CCC
BIOL3328
Nearshore marine
& estuarine ecology
BIOL3991 Directed
studies in ecology & biodiversity